May 29, 2008 - Altria Group, Inc. (Altria) First Shareholders Meeting Since Spinoff, Richmond, VA May 28, 2008.. Altria Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Michael E. Szymanczyk (suh-MAN-sihk) presided and discussed the state of the company. As of May 28, 2008, Altria owned 100% of each of Philip Morris USA Inc. (PM USA), John Middleton Co. (Middleton) and Philip Morris Capital Corporation, and approximately 28.6% of SABMiller plc (one of the world’s leading brewers with brewing interests or major distribution agreements in over 60 countries spread across six continents. Szymanczyk said the company has made "remarkable progress" in its testing and marketing of its Marlboro-branded moist smokeless tobacco and spitless product called snus (snoose). Szymanczyk said the company already has made a number of modifications to those products based on input from consumers in the test markets. "We're making remarkable progress," he said. "We've learned a lot that will allow us to efficiently develop our products further." As has been stated before, the company will deal with fewer cigarette sales by capitalizing on its Marlboro brand and selling more smokeless products.

May 27, 2008 - On 6am on Sunday March 26, 2006 Scotland led the UK in banning smoking in public places including bars and restaurants. As a result restaurants benefited especially chains that have seen double-digit growth. Waiters and bartenders have also benefited. Tests showed noticeable improvements in their lung function after only a few months. Now Public Health Minister Shona Robison announced an action plan to the Scottish Parliament, which also includes tobacco licensing and outlawing the sale of cigarettes in packs of 10. A major part of this plan is the banning of all tobacco dipslays. Ms Robison told the Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSP): "Despite tobacco advertising having been banned in 2002, there are growing concerns that prominent displays of cigarettes and other tobacco products in shops and other points of sale are undermining our wider tobacco control efforts to denormalise smoking." She told MSP similar moves in other countries had not seen a dramatic impact on businesses. Ms. Robison, "The protection of children and young people from the impact of tobacco must be paramount and there are instances - and this is one - when the benefits to the public health of the nation must take precedence." His legislation is likely to be brought forward in 2009. References: Tobacco display ban plan unveiled, BBC News, 5/21/2008; Frost's Scottish Anatomy Lessons from Scotland's Smoking Ban BusinessWeek, 3/20/2007. - Incomplete in progress.. need to place links to related news briefs..